Photocomposing machine



March 5, 1968 F. c. TAMBLING 3,371,588

PHOTOCOMPOSING MACHINE Filed ,Oct. 21, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.FREDERICK C. TAMBLING ATTORNEYS March 5, 1968 F. c. TAMBLING 3,371,588

PHOTOCOMPOSING MACHINE Filed Oct. 21, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 A m ,gQQQOOQQDQOQ QOQOQOOQQOOO OQOQQOQDO Q Q OD GO INVENTOR.

FREDERICK C. TAMBLING M ATTORNEYS March 1968 F. c. TAMBLINGPHOTOCOMPOSING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 21, 1965 INVENTOR.

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ATTORNEYS StatCS ABSTRACT OF THE mscLosUnE A' unitary automatic typecomposer, having a" rotary .font disc indexed to an exposure or printingstation-by selective actuation of a character key on matrix or keyboard,and having mechanically and electrically 1nterloc'ked index registry andfilmor paper transfer devices;

The present invention relates generally to apparatus for producingphotographic negatives for lithography, intaglio printing,photoengraving, or etching. More particularly, the invention relates toa photographic type composing machine operated automatically by atypewriter or a keyboard switch and display matrix of type characters.

Heretofore, photocomposing techniques have generally entailed selectivemanual positioning of photographic or pressure sensitive film inrelation to platens having. a plurality of type characters or fontsthereon. However, such arduous methods are tedious and time-consuming;and, even when locking or index registry devices are employed, theattendant human error inevitably produces inaccuracies or defects injustification, spacing, resolution, and exposure ofthe photographicnegative thus composed.

More recently, certain automatic typewriter-actuated photocomposingmachines have been proposed. However, all such concepts of whichapplicant is aware contemplate utilization of various combinations ofexpensive and complex clutches and drives with mechanical gearing andescapement'fm echanisms, high speed character storagev drums, encoder"and memory units, lin'e-at-a-time printers, elaborate opticaland shuttersystems, intricate electrical or electronic circuitry, and thelike, Suchs y-S- tems: involve substantial, and at times virtually prohibitive,expenditures in terms of initiali-nv'estment and maintenance costs fornormal the necessity for the inclusion of the complex mechanical,electrical, and optical components insuch systems increases theincidence of errors and defects due'to the possibilities ofmaladjustment and. the inherent inefficiencies of the componentsubsystems. And such systems require a high degree of skill and trainingon the part of operating and maintenance personnel.

Accordingly; it is a primary object of the present-invention: to providea simple; economical, and reliable printing operations: Moreover,

automatic photocomposing machine for composing; type characters onphotographic" film or'pape'r.

It is. a further object of the invention to furnish an automaticphotocomposingmachine, asaforesaidg in combination with an actuationdevice comprising; a typewriter keyboard or switch and display matrix oftype characters.

It is a still further object of the invention to' provide suchphotocomposing apparatus exhibiting. an optimum combinationofefficiency, justifica-tion, accuracy, resolotion, and operation speedproducing composed-negati-ves orpositives. t I

Itv is yet another object to providesuch a photocomposing machinerequiring; a minimum degree of skill and manualefiort in operation,adjustment, and main-tenance servicing.

with or composed of a switches, as hereinafter It is yet a furtherobject of the invention to provide improved mechanical and electricalcomponents in combination-with an improved unitary keyboard-actuatedrotary font storage disc photocomposing machine having improved filmfeed means.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention,together with structural variations and substitutions of equivalentcomponents, will be apparent to those skilled in the art from thefollowing detailed description of one preferred embodiment of theinvention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it beingunderstood that such variations and equivalents are comprehended withinthe scope and spirit of the invention.

In the drawings, in which like reference characters are employed todesignate like parts, assemblies, and circuit components, throughout:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a unitary photocomposing machineaccording to one form of the present invention, the hinged top beingopen to expose certain of the; internal assemblies:

FIG. 2 is a partial elevational or side section view taken along lines2-2 in FIG. 1;-

FIG. 3 is a partial top or plan view of the apparatus depicted in FIG.1, parts being broken away for purposes of illustration;

FIG. 4 is a partial elevational section view taken along lines 44 inFIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a schematic wiring diagram of' the electrical circuitry forthe photocomposing machine.

In general, the invention relates to a unitary photocomposing machinehaving a rotary font disc rotated or indexed to an exposure light orfilm printing station by selective actuation of a type character key ona matrix keyboard or typewriter. The apparatus includes novel rotatableelectrical contact means, circuitry, and index registry mechanisms; anda unique film transfer device is provided.

ponents of the machine 10 are preferably enclosed within a housing 11having a top which is hinged as at 13 to permit opening of the housingfor access to the interior thereof. The interior surfaces 14 of thehousing and the parts and subassembliestherein are preferably paintedsubstantially non-reflective material so as to minimize spurious lightreflections having deleterious effects upon the exposure of thephotographic film being composed with type images as hereinafterexplained.

Arranged. at the front of the photocomposing machine 10, is a switch anddisplay matrix keyboard of characters, such as typewriter keyboard 15.The key-board 15' has a plurality of type letters and numerals 16thereon, as well as one or more capital letter or upper case shift keys17 and spacing bars 18. Each of the keys 16 and 17' and the bar 18 maybe mechanically arranged to actuate electrical described, upon selectivemechanical' actuation or depression thereof by the operator of themachine. However, any suitable electric typewriter or switch matrix maybe employed so long as it produces separate electrical signals or pulseoutputs for each selectively actuated character key or matrix switch.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 2-a-nd3, the operators selection of agiven type character byactuation of it's appropriate characterkey 16 andits associated electrical switch'energ-izesan electrical drive 19 of atype described type character at a predetermined point for automatic ,3printing or photographic exposure onto a pressure sensitive tape or filmnegative F.

The rotary font carrying assembly 20 and electrical drive 19 arepreferably mounted within the machine onclosure 11, and drive 19 may beany suitable electric motor or motorized gear reduction unit dependingupon the desired speed of operation of the photocomposing machine 10.Drive shaft 21 of drive 19 is connected to one side of a flexiblecoupling 22 as by a set screw 23, the other side of the coupling 22being connected to an upstanding spindle shaft 24 as by set screw 25.Spindle shaft 24- is journaled in a suitable ball-bearing assembly 26mounted in a spindle bearing block 27 mounted on a fixed shelf 28 in thehousing 11 as by screws 29.

As seen in FIG. 2, the spindle shaft 24 extends upwardly from thespindle bearing block 27 and has a cap-' stan 30 secured thereto forrotation therewith by a taper pin 31. The upper end of the capstan 30has an annular turntable 32' secured thereto as by screws 33 andsurrounding an upwardly protruding portion of the spindle shaft 24. Theturntable 32 carries one or more upwardly directed pins 34. Pins 34 arelocated radially outwardly of the upwardly protruding portion of thespindle shaft 24 and cooperate therewith to secure a suitably bored andpin-hole'perforated font carrying disc 35 in a predetermined position inrelation to indexing and registry structure and circuitry hereinafterdescribed.

Located at the axially lower end of the capstan 30 is printed circuit"55, conjunction with the continuously an integral bell flange 36extending downwardly around i the spindle bearing block 27. An annularshelf 37 is attached to the lower periphery of the bell flange 36 as byscrews 38 for rotation therewith. The annular shelf 37 is mounted to theperipheral underside of the bell flange 36 on an accurately machinedgroove surface 39 so that the shelf 37 is maintained in precisionconcentric and parallel alignment with the annular turntable 32 and thefont carrying disc 35 carried thereon. An annular index register plate40 is suitably secured on the upper surface of the annular shelf 37 forrotation therewith; and the radially outer periphery of the plate 46 isformed to define a plurality of saw tooth notches 41 thereon, the numberand circumferential location of notches corresponding to the number andcircumferential location of radial rows of characters on the fontcarrying disc 35. i

On the fixed shelf 28 at the radially outer periphery of the indexregister plate 40, at least one electromagnetic solenoid 42 is mountedin a fixed and predetermined position as by screws 43. The armature 44of solenoid 42 is connected to a vertically disposed index lock bar 45having a notch 46 therein for engagement in the valleys of the saw toothnotches 41 on the index register plate 40, upon selective energizationof the solenoid 42 and the resultant actuation or radially inwardtranslation of the armature 44.

The index lock bar is connected at its lower end to a pivot 47 and isnormally biased radially outwardly from the index register plate 40 by aresilient spring means such as rubber cushion 48. Thus, when thesolenoid 42 is in its deenergized state, the index lock bar 45 isdisengaged from the index register plate 40 permitting free selectiverotation thereof with the capstan 30.

Attached as by screws 49 to the upper side of annular shelf 37 and indexregister plate 40, but electrically insulated therefrom, are a pair ofelectrical wiper contacts 50 the function of which will be understoodfrom the later description of the circuitry of 1 16. 5.

Mounted above the index register plate 40 on pedestals 51 secured tofixed shelf 28 is a shelf-cover 52 having a bore 53 therethrough topermit free rotation therein of the upstanding capstan 30. An electricalinsulating board or surface 54 is secured to the bottom of theshelf-cover 52 and has etched, engraved, or plated thereon a printedcircuit, designated generally in FIG. 2 by the numeral 55. Theconfiguration and electrical function. of the electrically engaged wipercontacts 50, will be understood from the subsequent description of thefunctional and schematic circuit diagram of FIG. 5.

Referring again to FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, the font carrying disc 35 ispreferably composed of a translucent plastic material painted orotherwise treated to furnish opaque regions surrounding and defining atleast two radially spaced circumferential fonts or groups of translucenttype character images. As illustrated, the radially outercircumferential font 56 comprises an assortment of upper case or capitalcharacters; while the radially inner font 57 comprises an assortment oflower case characters. Also, the upper case font 56 includes punctuationand symbol characters commonly mechanically interlocked with the capitalletter shift key of a conventional typewriter keyboard; and the lowercase font 57 includes numerals.

Inthe preferred embodiment illustrated and described above, the fontcarrying disc 35 is adapted for photographic exposure of light sensitivefilm F utilizing auto matic apparatus in a manner which will now bedescribed. However, it'will be appreciated that the font carryingdisc'35 may be readily adapted to printing of pressure-sensitive filmsor tapes by utilization of raised font surfaces in embossed relief on adisc 35.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 4, an automatic film feeding mechanism,designated generally by the numeral 60, is preferably mounted on thehinged lid 12 of the enclosure 11. A shifting plate 61 is slidablymounted against the under surface of the housing top 12 in guidechannels or rails 62 secured to the top 12. The plate has a flange orclevis plate portion 63 connected to the armature 64 of anelectromagnetic solenoid 65 mounted to the housing top 12 as by screws66. A film storage box 67 is mounted on the plate-61 for shiftingtherewith. A film reel canister 68 is similarly mounted on the plate 61.

A film guide or traverse track 69 bridges the film storage box 67 andthe reel canister 68 and carries therein a tape or film negative F, orphotosensitized paper having cog-wheel or'sprocket perforations 'alongits borders. As shown by chain lines in FIG. 1, a solenoid 70 with apressure-plate armature 71 may be mounted on the shifting plate 61 andaligned with the printing position on the front carrying disc 35 forprinting pressure-sensitive film or paper When'the machine 10 is usedwith a raised font disc. An electrical film reel motor72 is mounted tothe top 12 near the reel canister 68 by screws 73. A steppingmotor'h'aving high sensitivity response characteristics is preferred,and one type of a suitable motor is disclosed in United States PatentNo. 2,931,929.

The motor 72 has a rotating sleeve-shaft 74 which is bored andkey-slotted to receive a shaft 75 in axially slidable fit therewith; sothat, shaft 75 may shift with the 13181661 'and the film F carriedthereby. A pair of sprock ets or cog wheels-76 are carried on the shaft75 for engaging the perforations along the borders of the film F andthereby driving the film over the traverse track 69 into the-reelcanister 68. A knob 77 is provided on the end 'ofthe shaft 75 for manualwinding of the film F during threading.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 3 and '4, a pair of shieldedincandescent lamps 78 and 79 are mounted on been shifted by solenoid 65to the upper or" lower case position.- Light from the lamp is directedupwardly through the preselected translucent type character image toeffect a photographic exposure of the film F in traverse track 69 abovethe preselected font and character.

Referring to FIG. 5, the sequential operation of the photocomposingmachine is controlled by an electrical circuit, designated generally bythe numeral 80- and including the printed circuit 55 and wiper contacts50 referred to 'above. The circuit 80 controls the index lock mechanism(40, 45) through selective and sequential energization of the solenoid42; and sequential energization and braking of the disc spindle drivemotor 19 and the film reel motor 72 are provided by pulse output signalsfrom the circuit 80 to an electronic adjustable speed drive control unitdesignated generally by the numeral 81.

A suitable digital input program may be included in or associated withdrive control unit 81 in order to furnish proper variable spacing andjustification for varying dimensions of characters within fonts andbetween fonts.

Motors 19 and 72 are stepping motors of any suitable type such as thatdisclosed in aforementioned US. Patent 2,931,929; and drive control unit81 may be of the type manufactured by the assignee identified on theface of the aforesaid patent under the current model designationST-18004004 for model SS250-1027 motors.

Circuit 80 may be supplied with 115 volt, 60 cycle, single phase, A.C.power at lines 82 and 83 and lines 84 and 85.

Wires 86 and 87 are connected to the normally open limit switchassociated with typewriter space bar key 18 and provide a separate feedto drive control 81 to energize film reel motor 72, thereby advancingthe film F for the selected degree of spacing or justification. Ifdesired, additional variable spacing keys or bars 18 may be provided forselectively variable spacing or justification.

Solenoid 65 for shift plate 61 is connected between AC. power lines 82and 83 through the normally open limit switch associated with typewritercapital letter key 17 for energization thereof upon selective mechanicalactuation of the capital key 17, thereby shifting plate 61 and the filmtraverse track 69 thereon over the capital letter font 56 on disc 35.Limit switch 17 also has ganged or mechanically interlocked therewith anormally open auxiliary contact 17-a, connected in series with the uppercase font illuminating lamps 78, and a normally closed auxiliary contact1'7-b, connected in series with the lower case font illuminating lamp79. Thus, the proper lamp is energized depending upon the operatorsselection of upper or lower case characters.

The switch circuits for lamps 78 and 79 are connected in parallel, thethus paralleled lamp circuits being in series with the index registersolenoid 42 for simultaneous energization. However, 'a parallelconnection to solenoid 42, with time delay means if desired, may beemployed so that illumination of the lamps occurs after operation of theindex registry lock mechanism (40, 45) activated by the solenoid 42.

A start relay 90 has a battery-biased D.C. coil 91 connected to anormally open master limit switch 16-M which is actuated upon depressionof any of the keys 16 v of the typewriter keyboard 15. The key is helddepressed for the few instants required for printing a selected symbol;whereupon a pilot light 92, connected in parallel with lamps 78 and 79and index lock solenoid 42 flashes. The typewriter key 16 is thenreleased, and another key is depressed to select a further character forphoto composing. If desired, mechanical and electrical interlocking ortime delay means may be incorporated to eliminate the necessity forpilot light monitoring. However, apparatus according to the preferredembodiment disclosed herein has been found capable of automaticallycomposing approximately forty characters per minute (more than doublethe capabilities with prior manual devices), and further interlockingand time delay devices may not be necessary in most applications.

When coil 91 of start relay 90 is energized by closure of master limitswitch 16-M, normally open contact 93 of start relay closes, therebyclosing the circuit through leads 94' and 95 to energize the electronicdrive control 81 to provide momentary pulse advance power to film reelmotor 72, and simultaneously or thereafter to spindle drive motor 19.The drive control unit 81 operates to feed power to the motors 19 and 72in pulses. Each pulse turns the shaft of a motor 1.8 degrees andmagnetically brakes or holds the shaft rigidly in position until thepulse is attenuated and a new pulse of proper polarity is applied to theproper motor Winding by drive control unit 81. The magnetic braking ofthe motors affords accurate positioning of the shafts upon attenuationof the pulse, without coasting.

Energization of coil 91 also closes normally open contact 96 of startrelay 90, thereby connecting wire 97 to ground for subsequentlyproviding an interlock seal-in feed path through normally open contact98 to batterybiased DC. coil 99 of lockup relay 100.

Relay coil 99 is also connected by wire 101 to ring-bus 101 on theprinted circuit 55 on the underside of insulator board 54. Printedcircuit 55 also has a plurality of segments 16' spaced concentricallyaround ring-bus 101', the number of segments corresponding to the numberof typewriter character keys 16 and their associated limit switches.Each segment 16 is located on the insulator board 54 in radial alignmentwith a character on the fonts 56 and 57 on the disc 35; 'and eachsegment 16' is electrically connected to the typewriter key switch 16corresponding to its radially aligned font character. The other side ofeach typewriter key switch 16 is connected f0 ground.

The electrical contact points of wiper contacts 50 bridge the ring-bus101' and the various segments 16' as the wiper contacts continuouslyrotate with the capstan 3%} during energization of the spindle drivemotor 19.

When one of the typewriter key switches 16 is depressed, itscorresponding segment 16 is thus connected to ground. Depression of suchswitch 16 also closes master switch 16-M causing spindle drive motor 19to rotate the capstan 30 and the font carrying disc 35 and wipercontacts 50 carried thereon. When one of the wiper contacts 50 strikesthe thus grounded segment 16', wire 101 is grounded thereby energizingcoil 99 of lockup relay by completing its grounded battery circuit.

Energization of coil 99 closes normally open contact 98, therebyproviding a seal-in feed path to ground through wire 97 as described'above. Energization of coil 99 also opens normally closed contact 102,connected in series with contact 93 of start relay 90, to open thestarting circuit through leads 94 and 95 to drive control 81, therebybraking motors 19 and 72.

Upon energization of coil 99, normally open contact 103 is also closed,connecting wire 104 to ground and actuating slow-operate relay 105 byenergizing its batterybiased DC. coil 106 through completion of itsgrounded battery circuit through wire 104.

The slow operate relay 105 closes its contacts in about 100 millisecondsof a second). and this delay permits motors 19 and 72 to come tocomplete rest under the influence of their magnetic brakes. However, inthe case of the spindle drive motor 19, the stop position of the motormay be plus or minus 1.8 or even 3.6 degrees from the desired point.Thus, it is necessary to actuate the earlierdescribed index registrylocking mechanism (40, 45) by energization of the solenoid 42.

Before solenoid 42 is energized and fully actuated though, the magneticbraking of spindle drive motor 19 is released by the disconnecting ofAC. power line 85 from drive control unit 81 by opening of normallyclosed contact 107. Simultaneously with the opening of con tact 107,normally open contact 107 closes to connect A.C. power line 82 to wire109 to energize index registry solenoid 42 and illuminate the properexposure lamp (78, 79). The slight delay between removal of magneticbraking from the spindle drive motor 19 and the actuation of 7 the indexregistry locking mechanism (49, 45) by energization of the solenoid 42is achieved due to the time delay of approximately 39 millisecondsinherent in the operation of the solenoid 42"..

At the same time as solenoid 42 is energized, energization orillumination of the appropriate lamp (78, 79) is commenced to causeexposure onto the film F of the image of the desired translucentcharacter in the preselected font (56, 57) on the disc 35. However, ifdesired or necessary, the lamps (78, 79) may be provided with time delaymeans to retard illumination until shortly after operation of solenoid42.

When completion of the photoprinting is signified by flasher light 92,the selected key 16, which has been depressed, is released, therebyreleasing master switch lti-M and returning the relays (90, ldl), 105)to their normal or deenergized state.

The machine operator may then proceed with photocomposing by depressingthe space bar 18 or another key (16, 17) to repeat the cycle.

It should therefore be apparent that the above-described preferredembodiment of photocomposing apparatus and circuitry accomplishes theseveral objects of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. Photocomposing apparatus comprising: character keyboard means,rotatable font means, index drive means to rotate said font means, filmholding means to support a film and position said film adjacent saidfont means, image transfer means to selectively transfer at least onecharacter image from said font means to said film, electri cal Wipercontact means adapted to rotate with said font means and operativelyelectrically connected to said character keyboard means, index registermeans carried by said font means, index lock means adapted toselectively engage said index register means to precisely position andjustify a preselected character on said font means with relation to saidfilm and said image transfer means, and electrical control meansoperatively electrically connected to said wiper contact means and saidkeyboard means to selectively and sequentially energize and actuate saidindex drive means, said index lock means, and said image transfer means;further comprising; reel means to move said film in said film holdingmeans, said reel means being selectively and sequentially energized bysaid electrical control means; wherein said electrical control meanscomprises; start relay means (90) operatively electrically connected tosaid character keyboard means, lockup relay means (1%) electricallyconnected to said start relay means and said wiper contact means, andslow operate relay means (165) electrically connected to said lockuprelay means, said start and lockup and slow operate relay means beingelectrically interlocked to sequentially energize and actuate said indexdrive means, said index lock means, said image transfer means, and saidreel means.

2. Apparatus, accoring to claim 1, further comprising; printed circuitmeans continuously operatively electrically connected between saidkeyboard means and said wiper contact means, said printed circuit meanshaving a plurality of segments engageable with said wiper contact means,each said segment being electrically connected to a character key limitswitch in said keyboard means for selective grounding of said segment.

3. In a photocomposing machine, apparatus comprising; a stepping motorindex drive, a spindle shaft journaled in said machine, said spindleshaft being coupled to said stepping motor index drive and rotatablydriven thereby, a capstan carried by said spindle shaft for rotationtherewith, a font carrying disc on said capstan having a circular row offont characters thereon concentric with said spindle shaft, an annularindex register plate carried by said capstan concentrically with saidspindle shaft and having a plurality of sawteeth on its periphery, therebeing a sawtooth notch radially aligned with each said font character,and a solenoid actuated index lock bar selectively engageable in a saidsawtooth notch.

4. in a photocomposing machine, apparatus, according to claim 3, saidapparatus further comprising; a shift plate mounted in said machine forsliding movement therein, a solenoid mounted in said machine andmechanically connected to said shift plate for selective shiftingthereof, a film traverse track mounted on said shift plate to positionsaid film adjacent said font carrying disc for contact trans fer ofcharacter images therefrom to said film, a reel mechanism to advancesaid film in said traverse track, and a stepping motor film drivecoupled to said reel mechanism for selective actuation thereof, saidstepping motor index drive, said solenoid actuated index lock bar, andsaid stepping motor film drive being electrically synchronized.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 582,157 5/1897 Eaton -4.5 X2,298,666 10/ 1942 Whitelow 954.5 2,646,731 7/1953 Wirtz 95-4.52,898,828 8/1959 Wirtz 954.5 3,183,806 5/1965 OBrien 954.5

JOHN M. HORAN, Primary Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No,3,571,588 March 5, 1968 Frederick C. Tambling It is hereby certifiedthat error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction andthat the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 6, line 71, for "107", second occurrence, read 1.08 column 7,between lines 24 and 25, insert the following claim:

1. Photocomposing apparatus comprising:

character keyboard means, rotatable font means, index drive steppingmotor means to rotate said font means, film holding means to support afilm and position said film adjacent said font means, lensless imagetransfer means to selectively transfer at least one character image fromsaid font means directly to said film, electrical wiper contact meansadapted to rotate with said font means and operatively electricallyconnected to said character keyboard means, stepping motor, andelectrical control means operatively electrically connected to saidwiper contact means and said keyboard means to selectively andsequentially energize and actuate said index drive stepping motor meansand said lensless image transfer means.

column 7 line 25 for "l read 2. column 8 line 6 for "2. Apparatus,accoring to claim 1" read 3. Apparatus, according to claim 2 line 14,for "3." read 4.

line 27, for "4." read 5. line 28, for the claim reference numeral "3"read 4 in the heading to the printed specification, line 6, for "4Claims" read 5 Claims Signed and sealed this 14th day of January 1969.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. EDWARD J. BRENNER Attesting Officer Commissionerof Patents

